Throughout my career at the Eau Claire Police Department I have seen the rise in homelessness in our community. I know we’re not alone in this, as many cities are also experiencing the significant challenges the rise in homelessness brings. As the number of individuals experiencing homelessness grows, so too does the complexity of addressing safety concerns and legal responsibilities while maintaining public trust and upholding the dignity of this vulnerable population.

Substance abuse, mental health crises, and assaultive incidents within the homeless community require frequent police intervention. Officers are called upon to address issues ranging from trespassing, property damage, ordinances, and quality of life issues. Officers have a deep passion to help and serve their community and when we respond, it places everyone at the intersection of enforcement and humanitarian response.

In 2024, officers responded to 3,090 calls for service involving unhoused individuals. Officers that work the North District, which encompasses the downtown area, responded to 1,581 of these incidents. These numbers do not encompass the times Officers respond to the multiple follow-ups in relation to these calls for service or the multitude of informal contacts we have daily with our unhoused population. (The public can view ECPD's 2024 Annual Report online.)

"The Police Department and I agree with the community request and need to work harder and more efficiently. We need to bring services together and collaborate for the benefit of both the person asking for assistance and the broader community."

A very visible sign of homelessness in our community is homeless encampments. These encampments increase safety concerns for both the unhoused population and the public. They also endanger the police officers, paramedics, custodians, and other public servants tasked with responding to the associated harms. Uncapped drug needles often litter the areas along with human feces, urine, and garbage. When Officers respond, we often have a responsibility to ensure safety through utilizing our law enforcement tools to uphold state statutes and ordinances. We do this to safeguard  the well-being of all community members and ensure the accessibility of our public amenities for all. Our priorities include protecting our unhoused population. However, we recognize that while clearing encampments will alleviate the present safety concern, it also displaces vulnerable individuals without providing long-term solutions.

The Police Department and I agree with the community request and need to work harder and more efficiently. We need to bring services together and collaborate for the benefit of both the person asking for assistance and the broader community. Homelessness is a societal challenge requiring collaboration, compassion, and a commitment to change.

Officers interact with everyone on the streets of Eau Claire every day. They are committed to collaboration and offering positive pathways for individuals experiencing homelessness, connecting them with housing, healthcare, and support services. I hope the collaboration between our department, social service agencies, and community members creates tailored solutions that will maintain public safety and trust.

Bridget Coit has worked in law enforcement for over 19 years, and with the Eau Claire Police Department for 13 years. Coit is also a member of multiple community committees that work to address homelessness; with community neighborhoods and their concerns; and on Patrol in Eau Claire's North District, which responds to calls for services involving unhoused individuals. This is column is part of a series of addressing the issue of homelessness in the Chippewa Valley. If you have professional or personal experience with homelessness and would like to submit a column to be considered as part of this series, please email editorial@volumeone.org.